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Proxmox 1.0.0

Proxmox is an open-source virtual environment solution with an enterprise plan option. It provides a quick way to set up a server and deploy VMs, especially since VMware ESXi's free version was discontinued in 2024. This guide will help you build and set up a Tillered Node on Proxmox.

Prerequisites

  • Ensure the node in Proxmox has internet access and can receive an IP via DHCP or a static IP.
  • Create an account on the Tillered Hub.
  • Ensure you can SSH into the Proxmox server

Setting Up a Tillered Node

  1. Open the Proxmox Web Interface and Create a New VM a. Give the VM a name and note the VM ID number (e.g., 105).

Proxmox Create VM

  1. Configure the VM
    • OS Tab: Select "Do not use any media" (we will import a disk).
    • System Tab:
      • Set the Machine to q35.
      • Set the BIOS to OVMF (UEFI).
      • Tick Add TPM.
      • Set TPM Storage to local-lvm.
    • Disks Tab: Delete the scsi0 disk (we will import one later).
    • CPU Tab: Set the Sockets to 4 (or 2 for a smaller VM, noting this affects performance).
    • Memory Tab: Set Memory to 8 GB (8192 MiB) or 4 GB (4096 MiB).
    • Network Tab: If your DMZ is on a different VLAN, set the VLAN; otherwise, use the Proxmox server's main interface if it's already on the DMZ.
    • Confirm: Click Next and Confirm (do not start the VM yet).
  2. SSH into the Proxmox Server
shell
# Download the disk
wget https://installcdn.tillered.com/tillered.qcow2

# Import the disk onto the VM (use your `VM ID` if different from `105`)
qm importdisk 105 /root/tillered.qcow2 local-lvm
  1. Configure the VM in Proxmox Web Interface
    • Click on the VM and select Hardware.
    • Select "Unused Disk 0" and click Edit, then click Add to add the disk to the VM.
    • In Options, edit the Boot Order:
      • Enable the scsi0 disk and set it to the highest priority.
    • In Options, click SMBIOS Settings and copy the value in the UUID field to the Serial field.

Proxmox Edit SMBIOS Settings

  1. Start the VM
    • Let the VM run. It will be ready when the console displays:
Tillered
IP: <its local IP>
<tillered UUID> login:

NOTE

The node is now ready to add to your Tillered Account on the Tillered Hub.

Add Node to Your Tillered Account

  1. Log in to the Tillered Hub
    • If you don't have a network already set up, create a new Network. Otherwise, click "Add Node".
  2. Set the Node Type:
    • TEN: Tillered Entry Node for your local network where you want to route outgoing traffic.
    • CEN: Cloud Exit Node for a remote server where you want to route your traffic.
    • FTN: Full Tillered Node for a fully transparent network.
  3. Configure the Node
    • Select the Network you want to add the node to.
    • Select VMware ESXi & Proxmox as the Node Platform.
    • Name the node descriptively.
    • Set the Instance Identifier to the last 12 characters of the tillered UUID shown on the node's console.
    • Set the Validation IP Address to the local IP displayed on the node's console.
    • Click Add Node and confirm.

Proxmox Console

The node will configure itself to the virtual Tillered network. It may reboot during this phase, but it will be ready to use when the Tillered Hub node page shows the node as "Provisioned".